Java and Open Source

Regarding Java and Open Source, I have some good news and some bad news...

• The good news is that Java is "open" in the sense that you can look at its source code
• The bad news is that it's not truly "open source" according to the official definition.
• The good news is that you can see the source so you can work around problems.
• The bad news is that you can't actually fix the problems in the JDK.
• The good news is that you can fix the problems in your own version of the JDK.
• The bad news is is that you can't distribute your own version to your customers.
• The good news is that you could always email your fix to Sun and hope that they incorporate it.
• The bad news is that that's never really worked at all.
• The good news is that Sun has now set up a real mechanism to submit bug fixes,
• The bad news? Well, we'll have to wait and see if there is any bad news.